Recipient Organization
Resources for Human Development
4700 Wissahickon Avenue
Philadelphia,PA 19144
Performing Department
Equal Dollars Community Currency
Non Technical Summary
Strawberry Mansion has high concentrations of low-income individuals and families who lack the financial resources to purchase fresh, high quality produce and meat. A shortage of quality markets in the neighborhood limits shopping opportunities for those who do not have access to a car. The local supermarket carry poor quality meat and vegetables that aren't always fresh. Strawberry Mansion is inundated with corner stores that serve as the primary source for groceries. These corner stores carry little to no fresh vegetables and processed meats. A recent Drexel University study attributes limited fresh food access in Strawberry Mansion as a cause for the highest rates of obesity (42%) and diabetes (16%) of any neighborhood in Philadelphia. Strawberry Mansion is also located in Pennsylvania's First Congressional District which has one of the highest rates of hunger in the nation, according to Food Research and Action Center. Pennsylvania's First District ranks fourth highest for food hardship in the nation, with more than 31% of households not having enough money to buy food for their family in 2010. Additionally, it was discovered that many families are finding it difficult to meet their food needs in spite of receipt of public assistance food subsidies; because of the reputation for violence within the community, many quality food retailers are discouraged from locating their business within the community and residents have very limited access to fresh produce and meats; bringing together residents and other key stakeholders will have a greater say in how food is secured in their community. The Project Strawberry Mansion Community Food Planning Project will engage in a Community Food Assessment. The Community Food Assessment approach is an integrative systems approach. It involves collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders. It is solution oriented, looking at assets and resources as well as problems. Community food assessments promote community food security by increasing knowledge about food-related needs and resources, by building collaboration and capacity, by promoting long term planning, and by facilitating a variety of change actions including policy and program development. The Project Strawberry Mansion Core Committee has agreed to initially follow the Basic Steps of an Assessment Checklist tool provided by the "What's Cooking in Your Food System A Guide to Community Food Assessment". The expected outcomes are to have community residents and key stakeholders complete and present a community food assessment that analyzes local food security issues, goals and interest of the community, data needed to inform community on change actions and planning for long-term solutions to improve local food system; participants will gain knowledge about local food system and possible change actions; mutually beneficial partnerships between community residents and other food system organizations and a mutually agreed upon community food project proposal will be completed with the intent of increasing the self-reliance of residents in providing for the food needs in Strawberry Mansion.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
100%
Goals / Objectives
G1. Meet the food needs of low-income individuals in Strawberry Mansion Obj1a.Conduct a Community Food Assessment Obj1b.Engage community residents in all aspects of the Food Assessment Process O1b.Clarify goals and interest of the community G2. Increase the self-reliance of Project Strawberry Mansion in providing for the food needs in their community Obj2a.Identify and evaluate community-based strategies for change Obj2b.Increase residents networking opportunities and contacts within the various aspects of the food system G3. Meet specific Strawberry Mansions neighborhood food needs by planning for long term solutions mutually agreed upon by the community Obj3a.Facilitate 10-12 community meetings over the 12 month grant period Obj3b.Engage 25-30 community members within the planning process Obj3c.Engage local political officials, school representatives, food distributers, community food trust, SHARE Food Program, university representatives, social service agencies, faith-based and other community-based stakeholders Obj3d.Community approved Community Food Grant proposal The expected outcomes are to have community residents and key stakeholders complete and present a community food assessment that analyzes local food security issues, goals and interest of the community, data needed to inform community on change actions and planning for long-term solutions to improve local food system; participants will gain knowledge about local food system and possible change actions; mutually beneficial partnerships between community residents and other food system organizations and a mutually agreed upon community food project proposal will be completed with the intent of increasing the self-reliance of residents in providing for the food needs in Strawberry Mansion. Strawberry Mansion Community Planning Grant Timeline Begin Planning Grant September 2012 Core Committee Recruit Steering Committee September 2012 Core Committee Hold Initial Stakeholder Meeting September 2012 Core Committee and 25 - 30 invited participants Determine Assessment purposes and goals October 2012 Core Committee and 25 - 30 invited participants Develop a Planning and Decision Making Process October 2012 Core Committee and 25 - 30 invited participants Plan and Conduct Research December 2012 - April 2013 Core Committee, Steering Committee and Community Resident Surveyors Attend Trainings and Conferences December 2012 - June 2013 Core Committee, and Community Resident Surveyors Site Visits to Food Sector Organizations i.e. food coops, food banks, food distributors etc. December 2012 - June 2013 Core Committee Members and Steering Committee Monthly Steering Committees Meetings November 2012 - September 2013 Core Committee and 25 - 30 invited participants Present and Disseminate Assessment Findings July - September 2013 Core Committee Members and Steering Committee Evaluate and Celebrate Process September 2013 Core Committee, Steering Committee and Community Resident Surveyors Complete Mutually Agreed Upon Community Food Project Proposal August 2013 Core Committee and Steering Committee Implement Follow-Up Actions September 2013 Core Committee and Steering Committee
Project Methods
The Project Strawberry Mansion Community Food Planning Project will engage in a Community Food Assessment as outlined in "What's Cooking in Your Food System" (Community Food Security Coalition). The Community Food Assessment approach reflects is integrative, and takes a systems approach. It involves collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders. It is solution oriented, looking at assets and resources as well as problems. Community food assessments promote community food security by increasing knowledge about food-related needs and resources, by building collaboration and capacity, by promoting long term planning, and by facilitating a variety of change actions including policy and program development. The research goals of the assessment are to examine the what, where, how and why for Strawberry Mansion's community food system. This may include population, household and socio-economic demographics (including TANF and reduced school lunch); types, amounts and value of foods currently produced, processed and sold in the community; rates of food insecurity; how does this community cope with food insecurity; how do households make decisions about where to food shop and what to buy; how can more fresh produce be accessed; why do TANF households run out of food before the end of the month; why isn't there more fresh produce available; why are there so many fast food stores in the community; what do community members want their food system to look like and possible steps to realize the their vision. Several data-gathering methods will be used including but not limited to survey and/or semi-structured interviews, community meetings/testimonies; community asset/problem mapping/analysis. Project Strawberry Mansion along with key community stakeholders and RHD will work with a local university i.e., Drexel Universities Center for Hunger Free Communities to get assistance with research design and implementation suggestions and for analyzing, evaluating and interpreting results. Efforts to create positive changes in Strawberry Mansion and its food system based on findings in the completed assessment may include community mobilization/organizing, community education and new program development and/or improvement to existing programs. The best efforts to be used will be determined by the key stakeholders committee. The committee will use the Outcome Measurement Framework and Action Plan Template as outlined in the Provincial Health Services Authority Community Food Assessment Guild as the evaluation template for the assessment - were the Inputs (resources needed to create the plan) successfully obtained; does the plan clearly identify necessary activities to create change; does the assessment clearly identify outcomes/deliverables; was the assessment completed in the timeframe allotted; Indicators- were the outcomes achieved; does the assessment present a list of agreed upon activities stemming from the outcome measurement framework; were the actions carried out in the targeted timeframe; did all parties involved participate as agreed; was the assessment completed within the projected budget.